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PC to Phone VoIP over Dial-Up

by Nathan Smith

So you've heard that you can use your computer to make cheap long-distance calls over the Internet. Maybe you've even tried it. Chances are though that if you've attempted VoIP calls over a dial-up connection, you've experienced intermittent quality, 'call drop-outs' and annoying speech transmission delays. The good news is that there are some quick, easy steps that you can take to dramatically improve the quality of your VoIP calls over dial-up connections. There's a lot of hype these days surrounding Internet-based voice communications (VoIP) replacing traditional telephone service. Most of this revolves around companies such as Vonage who coin themselves as the 'Broadband Phone Company'. So what about those of us who don't have a broadband connection? Just because you don't have high speed Internet, doesn't mean that you can't save a fortune by using VoIP for your long-distance calls. Whilst a broadband connection will usually result in more consistent VoIP call quality, comparable results can be achieved using a dial-up connection provided some simple guidelines are followed. Shop Around Not all VoIP service providers support dial-up users. Companies such as Vonage bill themselves as alternatives to traditional telephone service and shy away from the dial-up community (who are tied to those 'traditional' networks to access the Internet). Furthermore, some service providers only support dial-up above a certain speed (e.g., 56Kbp). Two companies whose VoIP softphone applications work well over low speed connections include Callserve and Go2Call. 'Free-up' your System Resources In order to ensure the highest call quality, close programs that are running in the 'background'. For Windows users, these applications can be seen in the taskbar at the bottom right of your screen. 'Right-click' the icons and close those programs that aren't critical to system security (e.g., don't close anti-virus software, firewall applications and the like). If you're using Windows XP with user switching enabled, log off all users except the one that will be used to make the call. This will prevent the other user identities from running software and/or using your bandwidth while you're making calls. 'Free Up' your Internet Connection Given the limited data capacity of dial-up connections, it's important that you devote as much of your bandwidth as possible to the VoIP softphone application. To achieve maximum call quality, don't do anything that uses your bandwidth whilst making calls. This includes instant messaging, checking email, using a webcam, browsing the internet, downloading, etc. In Windows, you can look at the two little computers in the bottom right of your taskbar to see whether your connection is being used prior to calling (the little computers illuminate when data is being uploaded and/or downloaded). Scan your System for Viruses, Spyware, Adware and Malware Some of these malicious programs can hijack your browser, tie up your internet connection and slow down your system (not to mention seriously invade your privacy!). I recommend AdAware for free scanning and removal of Spyware/Adware. Once you've checked and cleansed your system of these nasty programs, your virus definition files should be updated to minimize the chances of re-infection. Use a Headset with an Integrated Boom Microphone Last but not least, using a headset with a boom microphone should eliminate those annoying voice echoes often associated with PC to phone calls. Echoes are caused by your microphone detecting the voice coming from your computer speakers and re-transmitting that voice signal back to the person you're talking to. By using a headset, the voice signals are limited in volume (due to the headset being directly adjacent to your ears) and thus the chances of your microphone 're-transmitting' those voice signals is greatly reduced. So there you have it. A lack of high speed Internet needn't mean a lack of PC to phone VoIP capability. About the Author Nathan is the owner of http://www.netphonedirectory.com which deals specifically with PC to Phone and PC to PC VoIP. The site includes a comprehensive directory of PC to Phone service providers as well as general information on VoIP and what you need to make inexpensive long-distance telephone calls using your computer

Top 7 Ways You Can Save And Earn Money Using Web Conferences

by Ozer Tayiz

You know, we are always looking for more effective means of communication. Effective communication results in better results for business, relationships, or teams of any kind, including non-profit organizations. Now, with the invent of Internet and VOIP (Voice over IP), technology made teleconferencing via computers affordable. Web conferences have many advantages over face-to-face meetings, or teleconferences by phone. Here are 7 ways you can save or earn money by using web conferences: 1) Save by reducing travel expenses, and time for business meetings, reducing high fees for long distance phone calls. That's pretty obvious. If you have business with various branches, lets say, a manufacturing facility, a sales showroom, a design office, you'll spend a great amount of time and money to communicate between those branches. Coming together for a meeting includes travel expenses, both time and money. Or you might have close friends and relatives abroad. In all those instances, communicating with a web conference will save you time and money. 2) Send and share files and applications with people all over the world. Maybe you can use teleconferences by phone for some of the above situations. But that includes only audio conference. What about being able to show them pictures, or, presentation slides? Let them see your face via webcam? You know, a picture is worth a thousand words. You can even collaborate on files, and applications through Internet. 3) Improve efficiency of your team by providing them on-job training. You know, in any team, top %20 performers do %80 of the work. It might be a sales team, an affiliate/mlm downline, or even a design/production facility. If you took 1-2 hours per week to have everyone in your team, learn from the best of your team, how much more efficient and productive could your team be? Now, if you have a small team of 5-10 people, it might not be a big deal to hold a meeting, but think about having a team of more than 300 people on your team, scattered all around the world. How would you possibly hold a meeting, or a training session? 4) You can use the web conference for online live customer support. Customer relations and satisfaction is a big issue for any business. Imagine being able to offer live support, including voice and video chat, to unlimited people. Wouldn't your customers be more satisfied, and choose you over your competitors? 5) You can offer free web conferences within the area of your trade, to increase sales. If you're selling widgets, you probably know more about widgets than the average customer. Offer a free webinar titled, for example, "7 tips to select the right widget for you", with a special offer at the end of the webinar to increase sales. This principle, giving some free knowledge to increase sales is a basic principle in 2-step direct marketing. And it applies to any kind of business, or even fund-generating charities. 6) If you're an expert, consultant, coach, teacher, or mentor of any kind, you can also offer paid web conferences or classes, for added revenue. Well, this is obvious. Imagine not only being able to serve to local clients that can come to your office to meet you face-to-face, but to people all over the world, even hundreds of them at a time! Could you imagine a group session with 337 people from all over the world? Right from your desktop? 7) If you find a great web conference provider, you can be their affiliate or reseller, and start earning money from the sales. Oh yes, this VOIP business is a growing trend, and, if you are looking for a good business that you can be an affiliate or a reseller of, I recommend you to take a good look at various VOIP & web conference providers. Those who successfully promote a good web conference provider would probably be making great amounts of money in the following years. About the Author The author, Ozer Tayiz thinks he's found the greatest web conferencing solution. It gives you unlimited seats, unlimited minutes web conferencing for a fixed monthly fee starting with $29.99/m for one room. For more information, click the link below: http://tinyurl.com/9u8b2